O-06: E-SICKLE CELL DISEASE: A FRENCH SPEAKING TRAINING PLATFORM TARGETING ALL LEVELS OF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
Authors: COLLIN M., PRZYBYLSKI C., TEYSSIE V., DIAGNE I., ELION J.
Journal: HemaSphere (2022)

Purpose: Sickle cell disease prevention and management programmes are traditionally based on 6 pillars: awareness, early detection, appropriate management, advocacy, research and training of health professionals. One of the main pitfalls is the lack of educational resources available to all healthcare professionals. Few studies quantify the training needs, but all conclude that it is necessary to deploy these activities at the preliminary levels of the healthcare system. In medical faculties and paramedical schools, little time is allocated to courses teaching about sickle cell disease. At the same time, between 2014 and 2019, average availability of 3G network coverage in sub-Saharan Africa increased from 42% to 73%, and from 4% to 44% for 4G. This massive development of information and communication technologies provides a major means of access to training for professionals working outside the capital cities, right down to the last mile. Materials and methods: The e-sickle cell platform was created to address this issue. In order to offer content adapted to all healthcare professionals, a network of experts developed a training programme on all aspects of the disease with speakers from the North and the South, who are healthcare professionals in the field. This network guarantees the scientific independence of the training material. Low-tech tools have been selected: Dudal for receiving the courses (developed by RAFT), and a simple web platform for their distribution. The training is freely available on e-drepanocytose.com. Results: The tests carried out in early 2021 with health professionals in 4 countries did not reveal any major accessibility problems to the platform and evaluation in regard to the content was positive in terms of its form and content. Following the opening of the site to the public, 305 trainees were registered by 31st December 2021, at all levels of the health system. The study material has been used in mixed training courses by NGOs in the field (MSF in Niger, Santé Sud in Mauritania). Site content is updated regularly, taking into account feedback from users. Conclusion: The use of the platform must be extended beyond doctors based in capital cities who at present are the main users (33% of registered users), and access to the platform must be extended to healthcare workers in the most isolated areas. The implementation of MCQ-based assessment’s will provide for better mastery of the platform and also for evaluating its real impact on the trainees’ practice. (Project instigated, coordinated and funded by Fondation Pierre Fabre) 1. Bibliography (background) de-Graft Aikins A et al. Tackling Africa’s chronic disease burden: from the local to the global. Global Health. 2010; 6:5. 2. Guindo A et al. Le Centre de recherche et de lutte contre la drépanocytose de Bamako: histoire, bilan, défis et perspectives. Presse Med Form 2021; 2: 405–412. 3. Kafando E et al. Les syndromes drépanocytaires majeurs: une enquête anonyme auprès du corps médical au Burkina Faso. Med Trop. 2008; 68: 241-246. 4. Mbyia B et al. Sickle Cell Disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Assessing Physicians’ Knowledge and Practices. Trop Med Infect Dis. 2020; 5(3): 127. The authors do not declare any conflict of interest